When the stakes are high, how do you move a leadership team from discussion to decision? Join the superintendent team from Anoka-Hennepin Schools to hear how they have applied Patrick Lencioni’s Working Genius model with district principals to navigate complex challenges, most recently reaching agreement on significant budget reductions. By helping leaders identify and leverage their natural gifts across the six types of Working Genius, the team has strengthened collaboration and improved decision-making in a way that is both productive and effective. This session will share practical strategies, real examples, and lessons learned that you can adapt for your own leadership teams. 

As AI becomes a more common tool in students’ academic lives, many are left wondering, “Is this cheating?” Our students deserve clarity and a voice when it comes to AI expectations in their classes. This session will explore the steps we took to develop a common language tool that empowers teachers to set clear AI expectations at both the syllabus and assignment levels. These were developed alongside teachers and students, giving both a voice in the process. Our guidelines are quick for teachers to adjust to meet learning goals of particular assignments, and are easy for students to understand. They provide consistency across teachers and subject areas.

We’ll share how teachers are using this tool to co-create expectations with their students, aligning AI use with educational outcomes. Participants will also have the chance to use the tool themselves, reflect on their own context, and discuss how to implement a similar approach in their schools. Join us to learn about a collaborative, school-wide approach to clearly communicating AI expectations in the classroom, empowering students and teachers to utilize AI in ways that further learning.

For superintendents seeking to build a strong working relationship with their school board, one of the most powerful and underutilized tools at your disposal is an annual performance evaluation. This session will share tips on how to utilize goals and standards to set and clarify the expectations of your school board, and to keep those expectations realistic and attainable. Learn how MSBA recommends their members evaluate the superintendent, and how an effective evaluation process can result in improved board team communication and forward movement for the district.

Additional Resource: Handout

In August of this year, Rochester Superintendent Kent Pekel created an interactive game that he facilitated to kick off the school year with all of the school principals and central office administrators in his district. During the game, participants assumed the roles of members of a school improvement team in a fictitious school and worked together to select the strategies for their school improvement plan that they decided would raise student achievement the most. After teams selected their strategies, they listed them on poster board for the full group to review. The fictitious scenario concluded when teams were told how much each intervention actually raised their scores after students took the test. The team that chose the strategies that raised student achievement the most won the game and received a fabulous prize. When administrators played the game in Rochester this summer, it resulted in a lot of laughs, good-natured competition, and some important insights about how to select improvement strategies and align them with test scores and other outcomes. During this session at the MASA Fall Conference, Dr. Pekel will lead participants through a new version of the game that has been updated to further increase the insight and enjoyment that participants get from the activity.

Additional Resource: Handout | Worksheet | Game Instructions | Scoring Rationale | Scoring Key

School finance is complicated! Join in on this conversation about the basics of school finance and get a behind-the-scenes-perspective—from both the MDE and district sides. Learn how to best utilize our resources and work together.

Little Falls Community Schools will be sharing how they are partnering with a couple of local training agencies to create pathways for students to begin a career as a CDL operator and in aviation. In this session, you will learn how the partnerships were established, how the District was able to fund the program, and how the learning opportunity is also being made available to the community and neighboring Districts. Participants will also be able to hear directly from instructors and students while getting a chance to see students using state of the art equipment in the learning.

With more to explore with the Dignity Index, join members of our Dignity Index team with rich experience in public education to take a deeper dive into the Index. Through scoring exercises, school-based scenarios, and interactive skill-building activities, attendees will learn how the Index can be applied to education leaders and students alike.

Improvement practices around systems such as employee engagement, strategic planning, and listening to those we lead are not "difficult", they just require some specific actions by leaders. Our panel of three superintendents will tell their improvement stories-each describing a specific tactic you can take home and try immediately in your district. These short vignette stories will be followed by questions from a moderator and questions from you, our audience. Come learn about how to maximize the leader practices of "Rounding, Results Rollout, and Bringing a Strategic Plan to Life".

Additional Resources: Results Rollout At a Glance | Strategic Plan Process | Rounding At A Glance

In today’s shifting educational landscape, creating a true culture of belonging is not just a school-level initiative—it’s a district-wide imperative. This session introduces IMPACT—Individuals Making Positive Academic Change Together—as a powerful framework for embedding unconditional belonging across all schools in your district. Drawing on the principles of Culturally Validating Pedagogy and Leadership (CVP/L), we will explore how district leaders can move beyond surface-level inclusion efforts to implement systemic strategies that affirm student identities, strengthen engagement, and raise academic performance. 

 This is more than a conversation—it’s a call to action for district leaders ready to reimagine educational systems, strengthen school cultures, and make a lasting IMPACT on the academic journeys of each student they serve.

ISD 728 is turning its strategic plan into measurable results by connecting district priorities directly to classroom practice. In this session, participants will explore practical strategies and user-friendly templates for translating big-picture goals into district- and building-level action plans. We will share our process for aligning work across departments, tracking progress through a continuous improvement cycle, and making adjustments based on real-time data. Attendees will leave with tools they can adapt to their own context to ensure their strategic plan is more than words on paper—it’s a roadmap for sustained improvement.

In the district office, the waters can be a little rough at times! This session will deliver timely updates on negotiations and more. With a dash of humor and a heap of practical insights, you will leave with reminders, helpful resources, and reassurance that you've got this!

In the district office, "In today’s educational landscape, resilience isn’t just a personal trait, it’s a leadership strategy. This session is designed for superintendents who want to sharpen their own leadership edge while cultivating the next generation of leaders in their districts. Blending vulnerability with proven strategies, we’ll explore real leadership opportunities that turn pressure into possibility.

 Through these shared ideas, you will gain ready to use tools to help you lead with clarity, shift mindsets, and build a culture where both you and your team can thrive. You will walk away with lessons that can be applied immediately to grow your leadership and your team's leadership." waters can be a little rough at times! This session will deliver timely updates on negotiations and more. With a dash of humor and a heap of practical insights, you will leave with reminders, helpful resources, and reassurance that you've got this!

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP), developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation, is recommended by Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management Minnesota School Safety Center and the Minnesota Department of Education as the preferred crisis management model for schools. This session will share Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate School District’s journey in adopting and implementing SRP across its programs, with an emphasis on adaptations for special education populations. Participants will learn practical strategies, lessons learned, and considerations for tailoring SRP to meet the unique needs of diverse learners while maintaining safety, clarity, and consistency across the district.

AI is already in your schools, are your policies keeping up? Join this interactive session designed specifically for K–12 education leaders who want to harness the power of AI while staying firmly grounded in compliance and student safety. You’ll discover that the legal and ethical guardrails for AI use in schools already exist in federal law, Minnesota statutes, and local board policies, you just need to know where to look. Through real-world scenarios, collaborative activities, and practical takeaways, you’ll learn how to apply laws like FERPA, COPPA, and the MN Safe and Supportive Schools Act to today’s AI tools. Whether you're a superintendent, principal, tech director, or policy leader, this session will empower you to lead with confidence, protect your students, and promote responsible innovation. Walk away with an action plan and the clarity to lead your district into the future, safely and smartly.

Additional Resource: Crosswalk of Policy

In today’s educational landscape, leaders are increasingly called to navigate complexity, conflict, and competing demands, all while staying grounded in values that center student well-being and equity. In this session, a superintendent and a psychotherapist join forces to explore how human-centered leadership practices, rooted in therapeutic principles, can transform the way district and school leaders show up in moments of tension, uncertainty, and growth.

 Drawing on their shared work with leadership teams, Dr. Corey Yeager and Dr. Laurie Putnam will invite participants to consider the concept of non-closure as a leadership stance: the ability to stay present and curious in the face of ambiguity, discomfort, or contradiction. Instead of rushing to fix, defend, or retreat, how might we cultivate the courage to be with complexity, our own and others’, in ways that deepen connection and unlock learning?

 Through storytelling, reflection, and practical frameworks, participants will explore:

•  How therapeutic tools like attunement, self-regulation, and narrative work can support more human, healing-centered approaches to leadership; 

•  Strategies to build psychologically safe spaces for courageous conversations with staff, students, and communities;

•  Ways to reframe “crisis” as an invitation to pause, listen deeply, and lead with authenticity at the crossroads of competing pressures.

•  This is a session for leaders who want to lead with people, not just through systems—those ready to embrace the beautiful and hard work of becoming more fully human in their leadership.

 Target Audience:
Superintendents, cabinet leaders, principals, instructional leaders, and anyone interested in leadership development, culture-building, or adult learning.

Participants will leave with:

•   A reframed understanding of conflict and ambiguity as opportunities for growth and belonging;

•   Concrete practices to stay regulated and curious in high-pressure leadership contexts;

•   Renewed clarity about what it means to lead with both courage and care in uncertain times.

What does it take to cultivate a school district where people truly feel seen, heard, and valued—especially amid politicized and divisive discourse? This session spotlights one superintendent’s strategic and human-centered leadership journey to build an inclusive, high-trust culture through the integration of Holding Space, a framework by Heather Plett. Participants will explore how the district has embedded this practice into board development, cabinet leadership, site-based interactions, and community organizations—equipping leaders at every level to slow down, listen deeply, and create space for the authentic voices of scholars, staff, and families. By resisting the urge to fix, judge, or hijack others’ narratives, the district is shifting its culture from reactive to responsive. Data and stories of impact will illustrate how Holding Space is shaping more connected, courageous, and equitable learning and working environments. Leave inspired to lead a district where everyone belongs—and believes they do.

Superintendent search season is looming, and when it comes time to make a career transition you may have questions about when, where, why, and how to make a move. This lively and interactive session will help participants understand the hiring process from start to finish, including tips for maximizing your written materials, references, and the interview process. MSBA's search consultants will answer the hard questions and explain how to read the nuances of each community, school board, and search firm to help strengthen your application and make the case for why you deserve to serve as that district's next superintendent.

In the fast paced, high pressure world of education, leaders are often pulled in multiple directions-navigating change, supporting staff and students, and managing increasing demands.

 This session is grounded in three key principles that support strong reflective leadership. The ability to accept whats beyond our control, the courage to take thoughtful action where we can and the discernment to know the difference.

In today’s changing landscape, strong school safety plans require more than protocols - they demand leadership that inspires trust and unites the community. This session will guide you through a collaborative process that transforms safety planning into a strategic opportunity for community engagement, transparency, and shared ownership. We will explore how to gather meaningful input from students, staff, families, and community partners, use data and assessments to identify and prioritize your district’s unique safety needs, align resources and actions to focus on continuous improvement, and communicate proactively with audiences. You will leave with tools and templates to launch or enhance a safety planning process that not only strengthens preparedness but also builds lasting trust in your leadership.

In today’s changing and often uncertain landscape, it is more critical than ever that our schools serve as safe, welcoming, and supportive environments—particularly for our immigrant and English Learner (EL) students as they face unique challenges that can impact their ability to fully access and benefit from the educational opportunities they deserve. Districts must rise to the occasion by not only meeting legal and ethical obligations, but also by fostering a culture of belonging and equity. In this timely and important session, educational leaders will be introduced to the Safe & Supportive Schools Toolkit, a powerful resource designed to help schools uphold the rights of all students. Participants will explore how to navigate the complexities of immigration-related issues, ensure compliance with state and federal mandates, and take proactive steps to protect students' civil rights.

  Join us as we strengthen our collective capacity to protect Minnesota's students and uphold their fundamental right to a safe, inclusive, and high-quality education—regardless of language, background, or immigration status.

In an era of constant change, effective leadership is more critical than ever. The Board of School Administrators (BOSA) is here to be a tool in your tool belt to support you with your licensed administrators. This session is your opportunity to connect with us, explore our core mission, and understand the practical ways we partner with superintendents/ administrators. We'll provide a clear roadmap of BOSA's functions, share key information that impacts your role, key legislative mandates around licensure, concerns about hiring unlicensed administrators, public complaints, and answer your questions, ensuring you have the tools and knowledge to navigate the crossroads ahead.

Across Minnesota, school and district leaders are feeling both the urgency and the overwhelm of integrating artificial intelligence into daily practice. This session will move beyond the hype to focus on what matters most: using AI to deepen learning rather than shortcut it. Drawing on the “Four Cognitive Pillars” framework—Memory & Processing, Attention & Engagement, Motivation & Mindset, and Metacognition—we’ll explore how AI can either support or bypass the essential mental work that fuels student growth.

 Participants will identify the “sweet spot” where AI acts as a thinking partner without replacing the productive struggle students need to build skill, character, and agency. You’ll leave with practical tools: a four-question AI filter for decision-making, strategies to redesign assignments for deeper thinking, and leadership moves to guide your teams in preserving the human engine of learning.

Whether you’re a cautious skeptic or an enthusiastic adopter, this session will equip you to lead AI-enhanced learning with intentionality, equity, and clarity.

Additional Resource

What happens when district leadership, overwhelmed by competing demands, invests in the power of external partnerships to build internal coherence? This session showcases Austin Public Schools’ multi-year partnership with CAREI — focused on instructional audits, professional development, and systems transformation across literacy, math, EL, and gifted education. District administrators and CAREI staff will reflect on lessons learned, tensions navigated, and strategic pivots made to serve all learners, especially those historically underserved.

 Key Takeaways:

•  Discover how to leverage research-to-practice partnerships to support sustainable change.

•  Learn how to move from fragmented initiatives to an aligned instructional vision.

•  Hear the superintendent’s perspective on leading change amid political, staffing, and community pressures.

St. Cloud Area Schools Enrollment Campaign – A 2025 NSPRA Golden Achievement Award Winner 

 What does it take to turn declining enrollment into record-breaking gains? In 2023, St. Cloud Area Schools partnered with Captivate Media + Consulting to launch an research-driven campaign that exceeded expectations. With insights from focus groups, the district tackled misperceptions, highlighted its biggest strengths, and doubled down on relationship-building, transparent communication, and consistent storytelling to attract new families.

 The results? A stunning 566 student enrollment increase in just one year, far beyond the original goal, bringing in over $4 million in new revenue and rewriting the district’s story. Join this session to see the research, creative strategies, and hands-on tactics that made it happen, and leave with ideas you can put to work in your own schools right away.

In our current environment, uncertainty is the norm rather than the exception. As Minnesota superintendents, we are tasked with guiding our districts through evolving political pressures, workforce challenges, changing student needs, and the shifting expectations of our communities. Rather than fearing these changes, what if we saw them as invitations to lead with greater clarity, courage, and purpose?

 In this session, we’ll reflect on lessons that we have learned from our own districts as well as our personal leadership journeys. Participants will discuss strategies and receive tools developed specifically to help leaders reframe uncertainty and leverage change as a path to personal and district-wide growth. Together, we’ll explore how a strong mission and clear strategic plan become not rigid frameworks, but adaptive tools that allow us to respond to the moment without losing our focus.

 This session is for superintendents who want to lead proactively with resilience and intention.

Additional Resources: WPS Strategic Plan | Purpose Leaders Worksheet

Engagement isn’t a task to check off. It’s a mindset that defines how you lead. This session invites superintendents and district leaders to shift from tactical approaches (surveys, forums, listening sessions) to a strategic model where authentic engagement fuels trust, alignment and progress. Learn how to move beyond performative practices, create structures for shared leadership, and manage input in ways that reinforce — not derail — your mission. Discover how to position students, staff, families, and community members as co-leaders in shaping your district’s story, direction and long-term success.

Today’s schools face new challenges that include: rapid changes in technology, shifts in the economy, and a world that is more connected and complex than ever before. Students need more than strong academic skills to succeed. They also need the ability to adapt, think critically, work well with others, and take on challenges with confidence.

 District and school leaders are pivotal in driving the shift toward relevant, inclusive, and skill-building learning. How can they set a clear vision and provide the support to make it a reality? And just as important, what do teachers need to bring the vision to life of creating learning that builds understanding across differences and equips students to address community challenges?

 This session will feature Robbinsdale Area Schools’ work on their Portrait of a Graduate, supported by the Graves Foundation and World Savvy. While early in the process, Robbinsdale offers valuable insights for other districts who are about to embark on this work. 

 Attendees will learn how to:

•  Co-create with the community (students, staff, parents, and community members) the school district our students want, need and deserve

•  Align leadership, vision, and instructional support to sustain change in school culture

•  Identify the first steps in launching or refining a Portrait of a Graduate initiative

•  Support teachers in creating learning experiences that build real-world skills 

 Learn how your educators and administrators can make intentional shifts to build connection, spark curiosity and critical thinking, and equip students to lead in a rapidly changing world.

School districts continue to depend heavily on voter-approved funding for building projects and operating budgets, often requiring property tax increases. This presentation will outline strategies for discussing property taxes both during referendum season and in the periods between funding requests. These conversations are an opportunity to build public trust, educate the community about school needs, and create a consistent narrative that links tax decisions to tangible benefits for students and the broader community.

School districts continue to depend heavily on voter-approved funding for building projects and operating budgets, often "As school leaders, we are all navigating the crossroads of shifting demographics, rapid technological change, staffing challenges, and evolving community expectations. Eden Prairie Schools recently engaged its entire community in designing Flight Plan 2035 – a bold, 10-year academic vision built for students to thrive in their future. We have developed a Future Ready Leadership Framework to ensure coherence, continuity, and alignment as we implement innovative programming across the system.

 In this session, participants will:

•  Explore a leadership framework designed to sustain innovation through alignment of professional development, operations, and instruction.

•  Consider practical strategies for navigating uncertainty while building momentum for future-focused learning.

•  Create takeaways to focus your own leadership efforts.

 Whether you serve as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, curriculum leader, technology director, or student services leader, you’ll gain insights and concrete tools for leading at the crossroads—turning complexity into opportunity and vision into action." property tax increases. This presentation will outline strategies for discussing property taxes both during referendum season and in the periods between funding requests. These conversations are an opportunity to build public trust, educate the community about school needs, and create a consistent narrative that links tax decisions to tangible benefits for students and the broader community.

PELSB’s superintendent member and staff will host a roundtable discussion on teacher licensure. Presenters will go over recent changes to licensure, as well as current policies the Board is considering, such as changes to science, arts, and special education licensure. There will be ample time for Q &A, so please come with any questions you may have.

More than two decades after the Columbine tragedy, the patterns are painfully familiar: Students exhibiting escalating warning signs, missed opportunities for intervention, and tragic consequences that forever alter communities. From Sandy Hook and Parkland to Uvalde, school shootings continue to expose system-wide gaps in behavioral threat detection and management.

 This session, led by a national school safety consultant who co-led the Columbine Crisis Response Team, examines what we've learned, and too often failed to apply, about identifying concerning behaviors before violence occurs. Drawing from high-profile case studies, participants will explore how to strengthen behavioral threat assessment systems, build a culture of reporting and response, and avoid the deadly trap of hindsight.